2012 Starling Match Racing Championship sailed in identical boats
by Brian Peet on 14 Jan 2012
Jordelle Simkin and Alice Noyer battling for advantage during the 2012 Starling Class Match Racing Championship - 2012 Starling Match Racing Championship Brian Peet
The 2012 North Sails Starling Match Racing championship was completed at Murrays Bay over Jan 10-13.
In the event’s 21 year history, this was the first event sailed in class association supplied identical boats. The fibre-glass hulls fitted with identical Southern Spars carbon masts, new North sails and new MacKay foils provided the perfect match racing equipment platform for the regatta.
Twelve contestants representing regions within New Zealand sailed two round robins comprising 132 races over two days. In almost ideal conditions Alice Noyer (Northland) was the clear leader with 20 wins from 22 races. Alice created another first by being the only female to ever win this prestigious event. Second was Sam MacKay (East Coast NI) and third William Linkhorn (Auckland). Both were tied on 18 wins but Sam won both matches between them, so took second placing.
The competitors enjoyed having boats provided, which reduced their costs, travel times and attendance complexity.
Other results were_:
4th Matthew Hughes (North Harbour)
5th Charlotte Corson (Christchurch)
6th Jordelle Simkin (Taranaki)
7th Liam Foley Logan (Nelson)
8th Zak Merton (Bay of Plenty)
9th Callum Pritchard (Wellington)
10th Sam Ruston (Sth Canterbury)
11th William Bennett (Otago)
12th Emma Thomas (Wanganui / Manawatu)
The Umpires, without whom there would have been no contest, were Mike Alison, Don le Page, Vince Newbold and Melinda Henshaw.
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